Date: 3/1/18

Location: San Pedro Valley, Pacifica, CA 94044

      

Site Description: The entrance to the trail taken through San Pedro Valley was located in a riparian area. The predominant tree species in this area was eucalyptus. The trail increased in elevation up the mountain side where clear species boundaries were observed. At these drier, more sun exposed locations, the predominant tree species was manzanita. At these locations, a greater variety of plants was observed, most of which which shrub-like or herbaceous.

Narrative: We began the trip at the head of the trail in a riparian area next to a creek. Gradually we made our way through the riparian area onto the mountain side where we observed clear species distribution boundaries. One out of the riparian area, we made our way up the mountain-side trail where we observed generally smaller shrub and herbaceous species until we got to the top of the trail and made our way back. Then rain came down like some Old Testament, wrath of God nonsense and we were hammered with all the fury of coastal nature (except an earthquake). In the rain we made our way back down the mountain to the car.

Family, Genus and Species: Melanthiaceae Trillium albidum

      

Micro-habitat: Immediately off the trail in riparian area, next to trees but

Habit: Herbaceous, roughly nine inches tall.

Morphology:

• Leaves: sessile, rounded/obtuse tip, palmate venation, mottled surface, glabrous, sessile
• Flowers: radial symmetry, sessile, petals erect and ascending, obovate-shaped blade, white, three petals, 5 stamen, sepals spreading

Family, Genus and Species: Grossulariaceae Ribes malvaceum 

      

      

Micro-habitat: several yards off the trail in an open space with sun exposure

Habit: Woody, tree, roughly seven feet tall

Morphology:

• Leaves: compound palmate, glauceous to slightly pubescent, finely serrated margin, alternate,
• Flowers: determinant pendant cyme inflorescence, purple flowers, styles fused to tip, hypanthium

Family, Genus and Species: Lamiaceae Lepechinia calycina

      

Micro-habitat: Immediately off the trail in an open space with light exposure and other herbaceous plants

Habit: Herbaceous, one stem

Morphology:

• Leaves: narrowly ovate blade, opposite alternate leaf arrangement, pinnate venation with reticulate tertiary venation, sessile, pubescent
• Flowers: bilateral symmetry, white flowers, raceme-like cyme inflorescence, pubescent,

Family, Genus and Species: Ruscaceae Maianthemum racemosum

      

Micro-habitat: Immediately off the trial in a wet area, slightly shaded by larger shrubs and small trees

Habit: Rhizome, single stem, glabrous to glauceous at some points

Morphology:

• Leaves: Entire margin, leaf blade shaped elliptic, acute to accuminate, glabrous surface, margin finely pubescent, alternate leaf arrangement, sessile leaves
• Flowers: determinate panicle-like cyme inflorescence, white petals, no sepals visible, 6 perianth